A Serial Number and Lost Equipment Database?

[sdai]

I'm not sure what are to be put into the Wiki first but what if we start a "non-official" Leica product serial number database and a lost/stolen products database first?

These were features of the old Leica official web site which were gone for no apparent reasons. Can we have them at this place?

[andybarton]

Sounds like a sound idea to me..., erm, "s".

We just need to find a simple link to the wiki.. Maybe a mod can help

[andybarton]

Hello!

It's here!

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-....php/Main_Page

[admin]

The serial numbers data base is a good topic for the Wiki, I have to dig into my personal data warehouse ;-)

The "Lost Leicas" database is something more complicated:
1.We can't publish the data out of privacy reasons
2. The data were give to Leica, not the Leica Forum

Regards
Andreas

[admin]

Sorry, I didn't read the first posting carefully enough...

I have to take a look if we can set up an own database...

Andreas

[ericperlberg]

I just took a look at the wiki and found that the main page was the standard default wiki page.

Having set up a wiki before for a community I would recommend setting up a basic structure so that the main page has a logical hierarchy so that when people land on it they have some idea of how to look for info. An example *might be*:
a) Leica thread mount cameras and accessories
b) Leica M mount cameras and accessories
c) Leica Thread mount lenses
d) Leica M lenses
e) Leica R cameras
f) Leica R lenses
g) Leica-Pani Digital Cameras and lenses
h) Leica History including famous photographers, business issues, etc.
i) Leica Collecting

Setting up the basic structure is easy to do (after you've decided on the basic organisation) by simply creating the new page using (again for example) the above terms and creating the link.

In my experience its then a good idea to populate each topic above with some blank sub topics. For example
b) Leica M mount cameras would have sub categories
i) M3
ii) M2
iii) M1
iv) M4
v) M5
vi) M6
vii) M7
viii) MP
ix) M8

Again, you need do nothing more than create the empty pages and a link. No need to start filling in info, the users can do that. Of course the power of a wiki is that you can add on stuff when ever you discover you need it but a basic structure gets everyone started much quicker and yields a much more accessable wiki.

I would love to see each lens Leica has made get an entry with our knowledgeable users filling in with material about each lens including links to current prices.

[ericperlberg]

I guess to the above should be (could be) info on CV bodies, CV lenses, Zeiss bodies and lenses, etc, or simply 3rd party bodies and lenses since we talk about them too.

Other topics might include:
Printing technique Film
Printing technique Digital
Cleaning digital cameras
protecting and storing film
protecting and storing digital files
Setting up a digital darkroom
Colour management

I can see how the above may or may not be in a Leica wiki but those decisions have to be made I think

[ericperlberg]

oops, apologies, I should have (and will) start a separate thread for structuring a wiki. Pls feel free to delete the 2 entries above.

[sdai]

Originally Posted by admin

Sorry, I didn't read the first posting carefully enough...

I have to take a look if we can set up an own database...

Thanks a lot, Andreas. Such a database could be very handy when we deal with used products, any potential buyers could simply punch in the serial number and instantly find out whether the equipment in question is reported loss or stolen, and that's enough ... there's no need to reveal any personal data.

[admin]

Take a look - cameras are here:
http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-..._Leica_Cameras

Lenses are to follow...

SNs are only until 2002 - if anyone has additions: please edit!

Andreas

[sdai]

That's pretty quick, Andreas. Thank you very much!